Carmel-by-the-Sea Municipal Code § 3.12.160 Authorized Purchases Under $60,000

Purchases of supplies and general services with an estimated market value of more than $5,000 but under $60,000 may be made by the purchasing agent in the open market, as described in this article, without observing the formal contract procedures in this chapter. Purchases of $5,000 or less may be made without informal bid of obtaining three written quotes at the discretion of the purchasing agent.

(Ord. 2023-03 § 2 (Exh. A), 2023)

The purchasing agent shall invite quotations from prospective sellers, vendors, suppliers or contractors.

(Ord. 2023-03 § 2 (Exh. A), 2023)

Written quotations shall be submitted to the purchasing agent who shall keep a record of all open market quotations and orders for a period of two years after receipt of such quotations.

(Ord. 2023-03 § 2 (Exh. A), 2023)

Open market purchases shall be based on at least three written quotations and recorded with the purchase order for payment. If three quotations cannot be reasonably solicited, the purchasing agent shall record the specific reasons with the purchase order for payment.

(Ord. 2023-03 § 2 (Exh. A), 2023)

The purchasing agent, at her/his sole discretion, may reject all quotations for any reason whatsoever and may invite new written quotations.

(Ord. 2023-03 § 2 (Exh. A), 2023)

A contract may be awarded by the purchasing agent to the person submitting the lowest responsible, responsive quotation except if two or more quotations are received for the same total amount or unit price, quality and service being equal, and further, if in the sole discretion of the purchasing agent the public interest will not permit the delay of inviting new quotations, then the purchasing agent may accept the one she/he chooses or accept the lowest quotation made by negotiation with the persons submitting the tie quotations.

(Ord. 2023-03 § 2 (Exh. A), 2023)